Fuchsia plant named ‘Rose Quartet’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Fuchsia  plant named ‘Rose Quartet’, characterized by compact mounding habit, yellow-grown leaves, gray-red stems, and pink flowers with a quartered corolla and reflexed sepals. In combination these traits set ‘Rose Quartet’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Fuchsia  known to the inventor.

Genus: Fuchsia.

Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: Rose Quartet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Fuchsiagrown for use as an ornamental for container, hanging basket and thelandscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Fuchsia×hybrida andwill be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Rose Quartet’.

The new cultivar ‘Rose Quartet’ is a chance hybrid which was discoveredby the inventor as individual whole plant within a population of unnamedand unreleased hybrid plants which resulted from a formal breedingprogram conducted by the inventor in a cultivated area of Cheshire,England. The purpose of the breeding program was to create new showyFuchsia that exhibit reliable commercial performance, compact bushygrowth habit, as well as new and unique flowers. The program wasestablished in 1997. Induced multiple open cross-pollinations of up to200 per year have occurred since that time, between individual plantcrops of up to forty individual commercial hybrids of Fuchsia, andinvolving 2-3 million individual plants.

Seed was collected from numerous crosses, and sown, in order to observethe resulting seedlings. In 2000 the inventor selected ‘Rose Quartet’,from the seedlings, based on its unique flower traits. The exact parentsare unknown. The female parent plant is an individual unnamed Fuchsia inan individual crop of Fuchsia×hybrida. The male parent plant is anindividual unnamed Fuchsia in an individual crop of Fuchsia×hybrida.There are no close comparison plants known to the inventor. The newvariety ‘Rose Quartet’ is an ornamental plant characterized by compactmounding habit, yellow-green leaves, gray-red stems, and pink flowerswith a quartered corolla and re-flexed sepals.

‘Rose Quartet’ was first asexually propagated, in June 2000, by theinventor in a cultivated area of Cheshire, England. The method ofpropagation used was softwood cuttings. The characteristics of the newFuchsia cultivar named ‘Rose Quartet’ have been determined stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of the new variety ‘Rose Quartet’. Incombination these traits set ‘Rose Quartet’ apart from all other Fuchsiaknown to the inventor. ‘ROSE QUARTET’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Fuchsia ‘Rose Quartet’ exhibits compact mounding habit.    -   2. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ exhibits pink flowers.    -   3. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ exhibits pale green and white        re-flexed sepals.    -   4. The flower of Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ exhibits a quartered        corolla.    -   5. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ exhibits yellow green leaves.    -   6. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ exhibits gray-red stems.    -   7. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ is propagated using softwood cuttings.    -   8. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ is hardy in USDA Zone 8b.    -   9. Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ is 30-45 cm. in height and 25-35 cm.        in width at maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew cultivar ‘Rose Quartet’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘Rose Quartet’. Plants in the drawings are5-months-old and were greenhouse grown in Arroyo Grande, Calif. inone-liter containers.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 illustrates the entire plant from a sideperspective.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 presents a close-up view of bud and flowers.

Drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors mayappear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are asaccurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Fuchsia plant named‘Rose Quartet’. Data was collected in Arroyo Grande Calif. from6-week-old plants that were greenhouse grown in 14 cm. containers. Thecolor determinations are in accordance with the 2001 Edition of theColour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.The growing requirements are similar to other Fuchsia.

-   Botanical classification: Fuchsia×hybrida ‘Rose Quartet’.-   Genus: Fuchsia.-   Species: ×hybrida.-   Denomination: Rose Quartet.-   Common name: Fuchsia.-   Commercial classification: Ornamental.-   Use: Hanging basket, container or landscape plant.-   Cultural requirements: Plant in fertile well-draining soil, in full    sun, with regular watering.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Vigor: Vigorous.-   Parentage: Fuchsia ‘ROSE QUARTET’ is a chance individual whole plant    hybrid that resulted from the induced open-pollination between    individual crops of Fuchsia×hybrida. The exact parents are unknown.    The following are presumed to be the parent plants:    -   -   Female parent.—An individual unnamed Fuchsia in an            individual crop of Fuchsia×hybrida.        -   Male parent.—An individual unnamed Fuchsia in an individual            crop of Fuchsia×hybrida.-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—Late spring to late fall.        -   Light requirements.—Needs 11-12 hours of natural daylight            for blooming to occur.        -   Plant habit.—Compact and mounding.        -   Height.—18 cm. in height in a 14 cm. commercial container            and 30-45 cm. in height at maturity.        -   Width.—15 cm. in width in a 14 cm. commercial container and            25-35 cm. in width at maturity.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 8b.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood            cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—14-21 days are needed for initial            cuttings to develop roots.        -   Temperature for rooting.—Recommended air temperature for            rooting is 20° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—4-6 weeks are needed to produce a finished 14 cm.            commercial container plant.        -   Disease susceptibility and resistance.—There is no specific            susceptibility or resistance to disease known to the            inventor other than what is typical for the genus Fuchsia.-   Stem:    -   -   Trunk dimensions.—1 cm. in height and 0.75 cm. in diameter.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem color.—182B.        -   Stem dimensions.—17 cm. in length and 3 mm. in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.        -   Internode length.—1.50 cm. between nodes.-   Foliage:    -   -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—Individual colors 139D and            182D are present on an individual leaf.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—Individual colors 139D and            182D are present on an individual leaf.        -   Margins.—Dentate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Slightly            puberulent.        -   Leaf width.—Leaves range from 1.25 to 2.25 cm. in width.        -   Leaf length.—Leaves range from 1.50 to 4 cm. in length.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole shape.—Sulcate.        -   Petiole color.—182B.        -   Petiole dimensions.—1.25 cm. in length and 2.75 mm. in            width.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—139B.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—139C.        -   Fragrance.—Grass-like.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary.        -   Quantity of buds.—An average of 10 buds on a 14 cm.            commercial container plant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—An average of 4 open flowers on a            14 cm. commercial container plant.        -   Lastingness of flower.—Lasts fully opened 3-5 days.        -   Flower shape.—The calyx is closest to stellular and the            corolla is closest to quatrefoil in shape.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Aspect.—Pendulous.        -   Bud dimensions.—0.50 cm. in width and 1.75 cm. in length.        -   Bud shape.—Narrowly bulbous.        -   Bud color.—Individual colors 145C and 157A are present on an            individual bud.        -   Bud surface.—Slightly puberulent.        -   Bud apex.—Acute.        -   Bud base.—Rounded.        -   Calyx color.—Individual colors 144D and 157A are present on            an individual calyx. Tinges of N74D are present on some            calyces of an individual plant.        -   Calyx shape.—Stellular.        -   Sepals.—Four in number.        -   Sepal color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—Individual            colors 144D and 157A are present on an individual sepal.            Tinges of N74D are present on some sepals of an individual            plant.        -   Sepal dimensions.—3 cm. in length and 0.75 cm. in width.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Truncate.        -   Sepal shape.—Reflexed and closest to oblanceolate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal surface (abaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Sepal surface (adaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Sepal appearance (abaxial surface).—Waxy.        -   Sepal appearance (adaxial surface).—Matte.        -   Sepals fused or unfused.—Sepals basally fused.        -   Corolla.—Divided into 4 individual petaloid structures,            which consist of a corolla tube and a cup shape petal            containing a single stamen.        -   Corolla tube dimensions.—1 cm in length and 0.75 mm in            diameter.        -   Corolla tube color.—155B.        -   Petals.—Four in number.        -   Petal color (adaxial surface).—N74B.        -   Petal color (abaxial surface).—N74C.        -   Petal shape.—Closest to cupule.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Closest to truncate.        -   Petal base.—Closest to rounded.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petal dimensions.—0.75 cm. in width and is 0.75 cm. in            length.        -   Peduncle dimensions.—Ranges from 1 to 2 cm. in length and            1.25 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Peduncle color.—Colors 144B and 182D are individually            present on an individual peduncle.        -   Peduncle surface.—Glabrous.        -   Peduncle appearance.—Waxy.        -   Flower fragrance.—None observed.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Eight in number, four of which are petaloid.        -   Stamen color.—155B.        -   Regular stamen dimensions.—3 cm. in length and 0.75 mm. in            diameter.        -   Petaloid stamen dimensions.—1 cm. in length and 0.75 mm. in            diameter.        -   Anther color.—182D.        -   Anther dimensions.—2.75 mm. in length and 1.25 mm. in width.        -   Quantity of pollen.—Small amount.        -   Color of pollen.—182D.        -   Pistil.—One in number.        -   Pistil dimensions.—3.50 cm. in length and 1.50 mm. in width.        -   Pistil color.—157A.        -   Pistil shape.—Filament.        -   Pistil surface.—Puberulent.        -   Stigma shape.—Cone-shaped.        -   Stigma dimensions.—2.75 mm. in length and 2 mm. in width.        -   Stigma color.—157A.        -   Ovary position.—Inferior.        -   Ovary color.—144A.        -   Ovary shape.—Cupulate.        -   Ovary dimensions.—5 mm. in length and 4 mm. in diameter.-   Seed production: No seed production has been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant named ‘Rose Quartet’ asdescribed and illustrated.